Thread: Running 10Km in less than an hour

I've always liked running medium distance, but had to quit many years ago because my knees acted up. I tried to start several times but had to bail out every time. Last year I went to a specialized shop where they scan your foot pressure patterns in order to fit a shoe. That improved things a bit but I still had to bail around 5km every time.

A couple of weeks I decided to give it another go (stubborn). But ended up with blisters on the inside of my foot, so I figure the insole is worn down. I take my shoes to the original shop and ask the guy if they can get me a new set of insoles. He takes a look at the insole and says 'wow that's definitely not good'. I said I knew, that that was why I was there. He looks at me and says 'no, not that. The wear pattern is all wrong, you run on the outsides of your big toe. Your foot isn't even touching the insole. Put your feet on the ground'.

He looks at my foot, and says 'yep, your arches are higher than normal. You need custom insoles'. I hear custom, so I think $$$, but I figure I might as well cough up if I want to run. I know I'll give in eventually just for the small chance I can keep running. So he disappears into the basement for 15 minutes and comes back with standard insoles, which he had modified with extra shock absorbing material in the places he determined based on my old ones. Only 5$ for the pair!

I try them 2 times and they seem to work great. Better than before. So today I quit work early (because tomorrow is going to be a very long day) and decide to go for a quick run. I hadn't eaten yet, but that it how I prefer to run anyway. I start running laps on the track, but lose count. I just click the button on my stopwatch every time I pass the gate. I kept a slow pace to make sure I didn't run out of breath. Eventually I discover that I'd run 8 km already. So I just kept going at the same pace until I finished the lap that brought me to 10 k.

I quickly added my lap times, and discovered that I'd run 10 km in 58:44!

10 km has always been my target, with the goal being to eventually do that under an hour. Today I reached both goals at the same time. I am a happy man! I haven't run 10 km since I was 21, so at 36 this isn't bad. Granted, at 21 I ran faster, but still I am really glad because now I know I can keep running regularly. All these years I've been running with wrong insoles, and it gets fixed with 5$.

Today is a good day

Good for you Bruno. I know how you feel, I used to run cross country in high school. My best time was 9:42 for 2 miles. I loved to run but can't anymore due to bad knees...The left one is scheduled to get fixed soon, but arthritis will probably prevent any running.

Glad you had a good day!

That is good stuff, and so very important for enjoying a good run.
And the price sure was right
Doing a 10K in less than one hour is pretty decent seeing as you haven't done much of it for years

After giving up MA some years back, running is basically the gist of my training these days and I'm really enjoying it.
At the age of 46 I do a 10K in just under 40 mins, a half marathon in about 1:30 and the full monthy in about 3:15.

While those numbers might not be all that, they are to me.
Having smoked a pack of cigarettes every day for close to 20 years, I can assure you my first runs weren't close to your numbers today!

Good job Bruno!! 5$ isn't bad at all.

I just started running again, not really timing myself but it's just been good for me to be out and run. I'd love to get up to a full marathon but right now I'm doing 5k 3 times a week.

Have you guys tried trail running? I took up trail running several years ago. I found it much easier on joints than running on pavement and much more interesting.

I've actually wanted to do trail running. I often found myself on hikes going from a moderate pace to just jogging. But alas, now I live in the concrete jungle of Los Angeles.... ):

Pavement and I have a relationship because it's forced but we aren't "friends" ....except when I'm riding my motorcycle.

I sprained my ankle in a race( I was racing to finish so not going to post time) and it has been long in healing. I have been trying to walk or hike 10 miles a week. The ankle is improving so I have been doing short runs on some of my hikes. I hope to get some real mileage soon.

Super not fun... May you be restored to better than before.

Originally Posted by Leatherstockiings

Have you guys tried trail running? I took up trail running several years ago. I found it much easier on joints than running on pavement and much more interesting.

I used to do that all the time, but not so much as I'd like to after a Lisfranc injury I managed to get while skateboarding a couple years back.

My entire right midfoot is now one big lump all grown together, so I invested in a decent treadmill that I do the bulk of my running on nowadays.

I wish I could pay $5 to run 10k in under an hour.